New Comedy

In just two days, Amy Poehler will co-host the 71st annual Golden Globes. She's got an NBC show -- and a web show. A film set for Sundance. And she's executive producer of the upcoming Comedy Central bestie comedy "Broad City," which she was helping to promote Friday morning at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena. Time-management? Pfft . "Everybody's busy," Poehler said sincerely. Then a beat. FULL COVERAGE: Golden Globes 2014 "I just have a series of doubles that attend various functions.

Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes Click here to download TV listings for the week of Jan. 5 - 11, 2014 in PDF format This week's TV Movies SERIES The Big Bang Theory Penny (Kaley Cuoco) quits her job and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is forced to take a vacation in this new episode. 8 p.m. CBS Community Jeff and Annie (Joel McHale, Alison Brie) try to catch someone who is putting coins down the backs of people's pants.

Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes Click here to download TV listings for the week of Nov. 24 - 30, 2013 in PDF format This week's TV Movies SERIES The Biggest Loser The contestants load boxes of food for tornado victims in Oklahoma into trucks, and one team wins a Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones in this new episode. 8 p.m. NBC The Originals Rebekah (Claire Holt) seeks Father Kieran's (Todd Stashwick)

November 23, 2013 | By Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

Our collective fear of death has driven story since its invention. But where once we quaked at the thought of a life cut short - by violence, illness, childbirth - we now just as often obsess about lives, and deaths, stretched overlong. A variety of shows currently square off against these anxieties, from the fantastic (AMC's "The Walking Dead") to the literal (Showtime's "Time of Death"). And no matter their overall tone, all acknowledge the grim jest that is mortality. HBO's hour-long comedy "Getting On," premiering Sunday, sets the standard for this emerging "hospice humor.

Oh, poodle! Debra Messing and Eric McCormack got together earlier this week for a little "Will & Grace" reunion. Be still, our codependent comedy-loving hearts! The NBC comedy alum and real-life friends met up and posed together for a photo op on the red carpet Monday at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood. They were there to attend an event honoring legendary TV director James Burrows, who helmed the Emmy-nominated laugher about a woman and her gay best friend during its run from 1998 to 2006, in addition to "Taxi," "Cheers," "Friends," "Frasier, "The Big Bang Theory," "Mike & Molly" and CBS' new comedy "The Millers.

Jeffrey Tambor is best known for his delightfully offbeat characters, from the fawning sidekick to Garry Shandling's late-night talk show host on "The Larry Sanders Show" to the head of the dysfunctional Bluth family in the recently revived cult favorite "Arrested Development. " For his latest role, Tambor will get in touch with his feminine side. On a recent September afternoon in the Pasadena hills, Tambor sported long, shoulder-length blonde hair, palazzo pants and chunky jewelry over a white blouse -- the wardrobe favored by his character in "Transparent," in which the paterfamilias reveals to his grown children that he is exploring a new identity as "Maura.

October 3, 2013 | By Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

In this season's new comedies, casting has too often outclassed concept, with terrific performers trying to elevate material that does not always return the favor. That trend continues Thursday with three shows in which very good actors work very hard with mixed results. NBC's "Welcome to the Family" is the evening's clear winner, though its catalytic event - teen pregnancy - is not exactly a laughing matter. But to modernize "Bridget Loves Bernie," creator Mike Sikowitz ("Rules of Engagement")

Comic John Mulaney is having a very good day. On Wednesday Fox announced that it has given a series order to the 30-year-old stand-up vet and "Saturday Night Live" writer's show "Mulaney. " The multi-camera ensemble comedy was created, written by and stars Mulaney. It's based on his life and experiences as a comedian coming of age in New York City. The show is being produced by Universal Television and executive produced by "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels. It also costars Martin Short as Mulaney's boss.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Michael Boatman have joined the Nickelodeon family to star in NickMom's first scripted comedy, "Instant Mom. " Premiering Sunday, this Mom-centric, primetime program is built around Tia Mowry-Hardrict's character, who becomes an "Instant Mom" after inheriting her new husband's three children. "Instant Mom" is NickMom's first original scripted comedy -- what does that mean to you? Does being the pioneers of NickMom's first comedy add extra pressure on the show?

September 27, 2013 | By Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

Stephen Merchant, the tall fellow sometimes found near Ricky Gervais (he co-wrote and co-directed "The Office" and "Extras," and costarred in the latter), has put himself out front in his own HBO series. Created with Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (writers for the American "The Office"), it is called "Hello Ladies," and it is funny and disturbing in exactly the manner and proportions one would expect from his earlier works. Merchant plays Stuart, a Web designer living in Los Angeles in circumstances that suggest this Web design is a career worth investigating.